N-ipeters



which shall be so constructed and ply the pressure to the timberto be bent, gradually RGERT FITTS, JR., OFIFITCHBUR TO W. HAYWOOD CHAIR COMPANY, OF THE SAME PLACE. Letters Patent No. 87,404, dated Marcltl, 1869.

The Schedule-referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT FIT'rs, J r., of Fitchburg, in the county `of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and improved Wood-Bending` Machine and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had 'to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, Sheet I,`is a plan or top view of my improved machine, showingr a strip of wood in place for bending.

Figure 2, Sheet II, is a iront view of the same.

Figure 3,- Sheet III, isa detail side view of the cam-gear, former-seat, cap, and centring-slide.

Figure 4, Sheet III, is a side or edge view of-the former. y

Figure 5, Sheet III, is a top view of the same, showing the bent strip and band in place..

Figure 6,' Sheet III, is a detail end view, partly in section, of' one of the cam-tables.

-Figure 7 Sheet III, is a detail view of one of the adjust-able stops.'

Figure 8, Sheet III, is a detail sectional view of one oi the extension-crank wrenches. l

Figure 9, Sheet III, is a front end view of one of the extension-crank wrenches.

Figure l0, Sheet III, represents-the two keys or keepers by which `the bent wood is `secured to the former.

Similar letters-of rererence indicate parts.

My iuveution has for-its object to furnish an irnproved machine, designed especially for bending the frames of chair-seats, `but ywhich shall be equally adapted for bending wood for other purposes, and

corresponding and progressively, until it is brought into the desired form; and

lt consists in the construction and combination of the lvarious parts 'as hereinafter more fully described. A and B are two large gear-wheels, placed, the one above the other, upon the vertical standard orstationary shaft C, upon which they revolve independently of each other.'

Into the teeth of each of the gear-wheels, A B,

'fmeshes the teeth of a small gear-wheel, D, attached,

to the shaft E, to which motion may be given by any convenient power` To the upper part of the standard G is attached a stationary gear-wheel, F, made somewhat iu the general form'iuto which the timber is to be bent.

To `each of the large gear-wheels A B is attached an arm, G, which is bent at right angles, and upon the [upper ends of which are formed journals, upon which arranged as to apthetimber to be bent is work the hubs ofthe revolving cam-gear H, the teeth of which mesh into the teeth ofthe stationary gear F.

The cam-gear H are provided withan upwardlyprojecting ilange, Vt, which, as the camgear' I-I move around the stationary gear F, press the timber to be bent gradually np againstthe former, bringing the said timber accurately into the desired form.

The cam-gear H hl should be made in such a shape as to press the timber close up against the former, from the middle point of said timber, where the pressure is first applied to thev ends of the timber. The forward ends of the iianges h are made with an offset h2, to'reeeive the caps by which the ends of the timber are held while being bent, and with an adjustable screw-stop, 71-3, to support or press up the end oi' the'timber, and hold it until secured by the keys or keepers. c

I is the former, which is made oi' exactly the shape which it is desired the timber should have when bent. The former may be so formed that the timber, when bent, may be in a horizontal position. Or it may be formedupon a spiral, so that the ends of the bent timber may overlap each other as shown in iig. 5. The latter construction I prefer, as it allows the different parts of the machine to be made smaller than would otherwise be possible.

J is the former-seat, which is securely attached to the upper Apart of the standard C, and which is so formed as to hold the former, I, steady and iirm While the timber is being bent upon it, and, at-the same time,- so formed as to serve as a table or iange to said former, 4for the lower side of the timber to rest upon during the operation.

K-is acap, which is hinged to a standard, L, in suchf a position that it may be turned down over the upper end of the standard O, upon -the former I, beyond which it projects, so as to serve as a guard to keep the timber down to its place, while being pressed against the former I; the seat J'aud cap K thus forming a channel, into which the timber is pressed against the former I, by the cam-gear H.

'lhe cap K, when lowered formerseat J, is secured in place by the bolt M, which passes through a hole in the upper end of the standard C, and the rear end of which is pivoted to the lever' N, by which it is operated, and the lower end of which is pivoted to the former-seat J, or to a collar placed upon the upper part of the standard G.

The lower end of the standard L is secured tothe horizontal bar 0, one end of which is attached to the standard C, and supports the upper part of said` stand'- ard, and itsother end is attached to and supported by the standard IL Q is the centring-bar, by which the middle part of clampedto the former I, before being operated upon by the cam-gear H h.

G, MASSA CHUSETTS, ASS IGNOII upon the former I, and

The bar Q slides through a hole in the standard L, and through a hole in the guide-standard o, attached to the bar O. i

The rear end of the bar Q is provided with a projection or pin, to enter a groove in the side of the camlever R, which is pivoted to the support o2., attached to the bar O, as shown in iig. 3.

To each of the gear-wheels, A B, is attached a bent arm, S, in sockets in the upper and outer ends of which work the spindles T, of the tables, the movement of which is limited by the slotted stops V, adjustably secured to the lower end of the saidspindles T, by a setscrew, and the slot of which receives a projectionor pin, formed upon or attached to the under side of the arm S, as shown in fig. 2.

To the upper ends of the spindles T are attached horizontal barsV, the lower side edges of the forward parts of which enter dovetailed grooves formed upon the lower sides of the tables U, so that the said Vtables may be moved back ,and forth upon the said bars.

X are cam-levers, which are pivoted to standards attached to the rear ends of the bars W, and in the sides of which are formed curved grooves to receive the hooks yu formed upon the rear sides of the tables U, so that the said tables may be moved forward and back by the said cam-levers X. A

The tables U are formed with a horizontal part, n2, upon which the timber to be bent is laid and adjusted, and with a vertical part, In3, against which the timber rests while being pressed forward against the former I.

Y is a band, or strap, which is interposed between the timber to be bent and the vertical parts e3 of the tables U, to enable the said timber to be more conveniently centred, and, by being pressed closely against the outer side of the timber, while being bent, to prevent the said timber from splintering or slivering at the points of sharpest bend. Y

At the central point of the rear side of the strap Y, is formed a point, which lenters a hole or groove in the centre of the forward end of the centring-bar Q, for convenience in centring the timber.

To the ends of the strap Y are attached the caps A', to receive the ends of the timber to be bent, where the said ends of the timber rest against plates a, sliding in said caps A', and to the rear sides of which are swivelled the forward ends of the screws ai', which pass in through the ends of the caps and have cross-heads formed upon their outer ends, as shown in iig- 5.

To 'the ends of the tables U are swivelled sockets B', in which slides longitudinally the extension or telescopic shank of the crank-wrench C', which is so formed as to be drawn together and ext-ended, somewhat in the manner of a telescope, as shown in lig. 8.

Upon the forward end of the wrench G are formed two jaws, c c2, the one stationary and the other movable, which are held together in proper position to receive and hold the cross-head of the screw a by the spring ci, so that the end-pressure upon the timber may be relaxed when necessary.

In using the machine, the tables U are moved back so as to be in line, or nearly in line with each other.

The strap Y and caps A are then adjusted upon the timber, and the strap and timber are placed upon the tables U, centred, and clamped to the former I by 'thesliding bar Q.

Y The tables U are now moved forward by means of the cam-levers X, to keep the timber a little in advance-of the pressure-points.

One of the gear-wheels, as B, is then revolved, press` ing the timber into place against the former I, where its end is secured to said former by one of the keys or keepers D.

This table is now swung back, and the other one advanced in the same manner, pressing down the other .end of the timber upon the former, where its end is secured by the other key or keeper D'.

The cap K is then turned back, and the former I,

with the timber and strap Y attached to it, removed and laid aside.

Another former is then placed upon the former-seat, and the operation repeated.

It should be observed that a different former and cam-gear must be used for each different style of bending, the other parts of the machine not requiring change.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters I )atent- 1. The revolving cam-gear H h1, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, in combination with the stationary gear F, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The former I, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, in combination with the former seat J, stationary gear F, and revolving cam-gear H h, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The former-seat J, and former-cap K, constructed and operating substantially as herein shown and described, in connection with the stationary gear F and revolving cam-gear H h, as and for the purpose set forth. 4. The adjustable and. movable cam-tables U, constructed and operating substantially as herein shown and described, in combination with the revolving cam-v gear H h, stationary gear F, former-seat J, and formercap K, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. The extension-crank wrench C', constructed sub stantially as herein shown and described, in combination with the cam-tables U, and caps A al a? of the strap Y, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The sliding cent1-ing and clamping cam-bar Q R, in combination with the revolving cam-gear H h, revolving tables U, stationary gear F, former-seat J, former I, and former-cap K, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

Vitnesses: ROBERT FITTS, JR.

BENJ. F. Ciment, R. CLARK ORAGIN. 

